CVE-2018-5010 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Acrobat and Reader 2018.011.20040 and earlier, 2017.011.30080 and earlier, and 2015.006.30418 and earlier versions have an Out-of-bounds read vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/10/2024
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability that affects multiple version ranges including 2018.011.20040 and earlier, 2017.011.30080 and earlier, and 2015.006.30418 and earlier. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-129 weakness category, specifically representing an out-of-bounds read condition where the software fails to properly validate array indices or buffer boundaries before accessing memory locations. The flaw occurs when processing specially crafted PDF files that contain malformed data structures, particularly within the document parsing routines that handle various object types and their associated metadata.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting a malicious PDF document that triggers an invalid memory access pattern during the parsing process. When the vulnerable application attempts to read data from memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, it may inadvertently expose sensitive information from adjacent memory regions. This information disclosure can include memory contents such as encryption keys, user credentials, system pointers, or other confidential data that resides in the application's memory space. The out-of-bounds read condition typically manifests when the software processes corrupted or malformed PDF objects without proper input validation, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential information leakage.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can provide attackers with valuable insights into the application's memory layout and internal state. Attackers can leverage this information to develop more sophisticated exploitation techniques or to bypass security mechanisms that rely on memory confidentiality. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Adobe Reader is widely deployed for document viewing, as it could enable attackers to extract sensitive data from memory dumps or use the leaked information to construct targeted attacks. This weakness aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005 which involves data from local system, and T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter, as the information disclosure could enable further malicious activities.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including prompt patching of affected versions to address the root cause of the vulnerability. Organizations should also deploy network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malicious PDF files attempting to exploit this vulnerability. Additional defensive measures include implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict PDF processing to trusted applications and enabling sandboxing mechanisms that isolate document processing from critical system resources. Regular security assessments of document handling processes and user awareness training regarding suspicious PDF attachments are essential components of a comprehensive defense strategy. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in preventing memory corruption issues that can lead to significant security implications.